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D-backs looking to give Owings start soon

D-backs looking to give Owings start soon

3/8/13: Micah Owings homers on a line drive to right field in the bottom of the ninth

By Rick Eymer
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Special to MLB.com |

SAN FRANCISCO -- Chris Owings understands his situation as a September callup and appreciates the opportunity just to be in the D-backs' clubhouse.

Arizona manager Kirk Gibson wants to get him a little more involved and said his time may come this weekend against the Giants.

"We're looking for somewhere in this series," Gibson said. "He's made a couple of pinch-hits and he's getting a lot of ground balls at second base to get him comfortable. We'll try to play him where he's more comfortable but we have a lot of shortstops."

It's easy to see why Gibson wants to get a look at Owings, ranked as the D-backs' No. 3 prospect by MLB.com. He was the Pacific Coast League MVP and Rookie of the Year, the second straight D-backs prospect to sweep the awards, following Adam Eaton last year.

Owings batted .330 with 12 home runs and 81 RBIs with the Reno Aces and appeared in the Futures Game during the All-Star celebration. He ranked second among all Minor League players with 180 hits and seventh with 104 runs.

Owings, who played some second base this year, said he's getting more comfortable.

"I feel like I've made progress," Owings said. "This is a good bunch of guys and I'm trying to take out of this what I can. It's a month of experience under my belt."

Owings is no stranger to the D-backs. He completed his third Major League Spring Training with the club this year and knows everybody.

"The biggest thing is really just seeing what guys do," Owings said. "It's a whole different aspect to me than Spring Training."

Rick Eymer is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.